Dr. Jungyoung Kim was recently awarded the NUS Annual Teaching Excellence Award 2026, in recognition of her thoughtful and intentional approach to helping students develop skills that go far beyond the classroom. At the heart of her teaching is a question she returns to often: how do you help students see the value in abilities that take time to develop?

Our discussion with Dr. Kim centred around teaching critical thinking and communication. These are widely recognised as essential skills, but for many students, they can feel abstract or disconnected from daily life. Progress is also hard to measure when growth happens gradually. In a world where we're constantly absorbing information, the ability to question, evaluate, and communicate ideas thoughtfully has never mattered more.

Dr. Kim shared that her approach works on two levels. The first is building learners who take ownership of their own growth. She designs resources students can return to before and after class, to revisit concepts, reflect on their understanding, and spot gaps. She also uses online platforms like Perusall, where students annotate readings, respond to peers, and engage with her feedback in real time. These exchanges make learning visible and ongoing, rather than confined to the classroom. The second is grounding these skills in lived experience. Her classes examine everyday situations involving identity and inequality, which are things students already have a stake in. They question assumptions, weigh different perspectives, and practise articulating their views while genuinely engaging with others.

For Dr. Kim, the measure of success is simple but profound: when students begin to see critical thinking and communication not as academic requirements, but as capacities that help them live, connect, and contribute more thoughtfully is when teaching has truly done its work.